To avoid “lime burns”, try to swab particles mechanically from the eye before washing.
A cotton bud, match or similar object is held over the closed eyelid.The eyelid is turned inside out over the cotton bud.

Eye contamination with other chemicals

IMMEDIATE washing of the eye with copious amounts of water.

Keep the eyelids widely apart as illustrated.

Remove contact lens.

Direct water flow from inner to outer corner of the eye. Washing must be done thoroughly for ten minutes, timed by the clock.

If available, use a 1 L bag of sodium chloride 0.9% with a drip set to irrigate the eye.

Don’t delay. Use water until drip is ready.

Signs and symptoms

Treatment

Anaesthetic eye drops should be instilled in the eye to ensure adequate irrigation of the eye.

Pain, redness and watering of the eye

If pain is severe, anaesthetic eye drops should be instilled in the eye to relieve pain.

If the eye continues to be painful, give two tablets of paracetamol every 6 hours until the pain is relieved.

RADIO FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.

Unrelieved severe pain

If severe pain continues despite 10 minutes irrigation of the eye with water, repeat the eye wash for a further 10 minutes after instilling anaesthetic eye drops and RADIO FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.